Cognitive Interviewing in Survey Research (Online)

This 4-hour course will be held online only. Attendance is required as it will not be recorded.

Cognitive interviewing in survey research is a tool that allows researchers to improve survey questions and questionnaires by better understanding how respondents understand and respond to the questions they are being asked. Data gathered through cognitive interviews help researchers identify and remedy issues with their questionnaires. This short course provides participants with
fundamentals on where cognitive interviews fit in the survey process and on how to design, conduct, and analyze cognitive interviews. Participants will have the opportunity to practice specific cognitive interviewing techniques, including think-alouds, probing, and observation. Participants will also learn about revising survey questions based on interpreting cognitive interview results and about the research on which cognitive interview practices are based.

Course Goals:
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
1. Understand what cognitive interviews are and their use in survey research
2. Be able to prepare for and conduct cognitive interviews
3. Improve survey questionnaires and survey items based on cognitive interview data

This course will count for 4.0 CSS short course credits.

Instructors: Jessica Grant and Alexandra Cooper

Alexandra Cooper is the Associate Director of the Duke Initaitve on Survey Methodology. She is also the Associate Director for Assessment and Evaluation at Duke’s Purpose Project. Dr. Cooper holds a a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a B.A. in Political and Social Thought and in French from the University of Virginia. She has held faculty positions at UNC Charlotte, Duke University, and Lafayette College. Her research interests include survey and experimental methods, human behavior, and the role institutional
structures play in shaping outcomes.
Jessica Grant is the Interim Director of Research at the Odum Institute for Research in Social Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also the Director for Odum’s graduate level Certificate in Survey Science. Jessica has 20 years of experience overseeing social science research projects for federal and state government agencies, universities, private organizations, and foundations. She offers expertise in survey research project design, questionnaire development, and data collection for the social, behavioral, and health sciences. Prior to joining the Odum Institute in 2021, Ms. Grant was a Research Survey Scientist and Administrative Manager in the Public Health and Clinical Research program within RTI International’s Survey Research Division for over 13 years. She received her M.A. in Sociology at Fayetteville State University while working as the Survey Research Center Coordinator at Fayetteville State’s Research Center for Health Disparities. She received her B.A. in Sociology and Women’s Studies as well as a graduate certificate in Field Epidemiology from UNC Chapel Hill.

Registration fees:

• UNC Chapel Hill Students: $0, with a $25 deposit to hold your spot (deposit is refundable upon your attendance for at least 66% of the course)
• UNC Chapel Hill Faculty/Staff/Postdoc/Resident/Visiting Scholars: $50
• University (Non UNC Chapel Hill) Student/Employee (must have active university email): $75
• Government/Non-Profit/Corporate: $100

Additional course information:

• Cancellation/ Refund Policy: A full refund will be given to those who cancel their registration no later than 10 days prior to the course. If you cancel within the 10 days prior to the class, no refund will be given. Please allow 30 days to receive your refund.
• Zoom link for those attending online will be sent prior to the course. Registration must be made at least 3 days prior to the course date to receive the Zoom link.

For questions regarding this class, please contact Jill Stevens at jill_stevens@unc.edu